Lester's struggles won't last

Random thoughts from the wide world of sports while wondering if Jon Lester could possibly be as bad as he's pitched this season?

After taking the loss against the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday, Lester's overall record dropped to 9-14 with a 4.94 ERA during what has been a disastrous 2012 campaign for a left-hander who was being counted on to win somewhere between 16 and 20 games coming out of spring training. Hard to believe Lester was 15-9 with a 3.47 ERA only last season, and 19-9 with a 3.25 ERA in 2010.

Lester has struggled mightily in games at Fenway Park this year. His record in home games is 3-10 with a 6.31 ERA. Opponents are batting .302 against him at Fenway. Lester has allowed 129 hits and 15 homers in 107 innings pitched on Yawkey Way. Certainly not the type of stuff the Red Sox were counting on from the pitcher who is supposed to be the ace of the starting rotation.

Not for nothing, but as bad as things have gone for Lester this season, you have to believe he'll be more determined than ever to turn it around next summer. He's one of only six players -- Dustin Pedroia, Will Middlebrooks, Clay Buchholz, Felix Doubront and Junichi Tazawa being the other five -- on this year's roster who I would try to keep under any circumstances. Everyone else under contract could be had in the right deal. Any player whose deal is running out would only be brought back at the right price.

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I'd like to see David Ortiz, currently sidelined with an Achilles tendon injury, return and finish his career with the Red Sox, but I just wouldn't shell out huge bucks (nothing over $9 million on a one-year deal) for a designated hitter who turns 37 in November. The feeling here is the Red Sox will not make the American League playoff cut next summer with or without Big Papi's 30 homers and 100 RBIs.

Speaking of the Red Sox, a number of candidates have already been rumored as possible replacements for Bobby Valentine should the Red Sox manager be relieved of his duties at some point in the coming weeks. One guy whose name I haven't heard mentioned is Arnie Beyeler, the former Lowell Spinners skipper who managed the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox to the International League title this season. Here's hoping Beyeler at least gets an opportunity to interview for the job if, as expected, it opens up.

With all the comings and goings due to injuries and trades at Fenway Park this summer, the Paw Sox roster reportedly featured a total of 69 players this season. The one constant in the Paw Sox clubhouse was Beyeler. In 12 seasons as a minor-league manager Beyeler, 48, has an overall record of 802-756. At the very least, Beyeler should be considered for a job on the Red Sox staff as a coach.

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